TOUGHNESS CHARACTERIZATION OF IRON-BASED POWDER MATERIAL

Fracture mode dependence on the material structure is applied to chara cterize the fracture toughness of iron-based powder material. The poro sity parameter is varied to exhibit the change in the observed fractur e mechanism and hence the fracture toughness of powder materials. Usef ul information is obtained to enhance the production technology in ter ms of porosity content and inter-particle contacts. The proposed simul ation procedure provides data that are in good agreement with experime nts and makes it possible to predict the mechanical behavior of powder materials with different structures. Complex dependence of fracture t oughness on the porosity of powder materials is reflected by competing microfracture mechanisms and inherent peculiar behavior of the compac ting powder.